Definition

Summary

Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia require a license to work as a barber; only Alabama does not. On average, these laws cost aspiring barbers 416 days in education and training and $130 in fees and require them to pass one written and one practical exam -- the 13th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. And, because barbers are licensed so widely, the occupation ranks as the fifth most widely and onerously licensed occupation.

License requirements for barbers vary widely across states. Nevada has the most burdensome requirements with nearly two-and-a-half years lost to education and an apprenticeship, four exams and $140 in fees. At the other end of the spectrum, Wyoming requires 175 days of education, one written and one practical exam and $125 in fees.